Benesch: Illinois Cannabis Outlook 2025: WhereAre We and Where Are We Going?

Illinois Cannabis Outlook 2025: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?

Illinois_Cannabis_Outlook__Where_Are_We_and_Where_Are_We_Going

 

Authors

Ali Jubelirer – Of Counsel

Ali is a seasoned legal and business professional with deep expertise in labor and employment law, particularly as it intersects with the unique challenges of the cannabis industry. With a career spanning over two decades, Ali has guided businesses through a variety of legal, regulatory, and operational challenges. Her areas of focus include labor and employment, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and commercial contracts, with a keen understanding of the evolution of the national and international cannabis landscape.

Cole Eastman – Associate

Cole focuses on providing licensing, regulatory, and transactional advice to businesses in cannabis, hospitality, and beyond. With clients ranging from multi-state operators to Social Equity Applicants – his primary focus has been assisting cannabis companies with regulatory and legal matters as they attempt to take their business from license to fully-operational facility. Over the course of his career, Cole has assisted in securing over 65 cannabis licenses in limited-license states.

Victoria Mendicino – Law Clerk / Legal Extern | Cannabis Industry Group

Victoria Mendicino – Law Clerk / Legal Extern | Cannabis Industry Group

Victoria Mendicino brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing the cannabis industry to her role as a law clerk at Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP. Her decade of industry experience has been marked by strategic engagement with lawmakers to advance common sense reforms, real-world regulatory compliance, and work on transactional matters. Victoria is a 2026 J.D. Candidate at DePaul University College of Law, where she earned CALI Awards in Torts and Legal Analysis Research and Communication

 

https://www.beneschlaw.com/services/industries/cannabis-industry-1.html

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Author Bios

Canada
Matt Maurer – Minden Gross
Jeff Hergot – Wildboer Dellelce LLP

Costa Rica
Tim Morales – The Cannabis Industry Association Costa Rica

Nicaragua
Elvin Rodríguez Fabilena

USA

General
Julie Godard
Carl L Rowley -Thompson Coburn LLP

Arizona
Jerry Chesler – Chesler Consulting

California
Ian Stewart – Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP
Otis Felder – Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP
Lance Rogers – Greenspoon Marder – San Diego
Jessica McElfresh -McElfresh Law – San Diego
Tracy Gallegos – Partner – Fox Rothschild

Colorado
Adam Detsky – Knight Nicastro
Dave Rodman – Dave Rodman Law Group
Peter Fendel – CMR Real Estate Network
Nate Reed – CMR Real Estate Network

Florida
Matthew Ginder – Greenspoon Marder
David C. Kotler – Cohen Kotler

Illinois
William Bogot – Fox Rothschild

Massachusetts
Valerio Romano, Attorney – VGR Law Firm, PC

Nevada
Neal Gidvani – Snr Assoc: Greenspoon Marder
Phillip Silvestri – Snr Assoc: Greenspoon Marder

Tracy Gallegos – Associate Fox Rothschild

New Jersey

Matthew G. Miller – MG Miller Intellectual Property Law LLC
Daniel T. McKillop – Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

New York
Gregory J. Ryan, Esq. Tesser, Ryan & Rochman, LLP
Tim Nolen Tesser, Ryan & Rochman, LLP
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

Oregon
Paul Loney & Kristie Cromwell – Loney Law Group
William Stewart – Half Baked Labs

Pennsylvania
Andrew B. Sacks – Managing Partner Sacks Weston Diamond
William Roark – Principal Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin
Joshua Horn – Partner Fox Rothschild

Washington DC
Teddy Eynon – Partner Fox Rothschild